Yellow bags for segregation of biomedical waste are meant for:

AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-1)

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

According to the Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) Management Rules, 2016, yellow bags are designated for specific categories of waste that require incineration or deep burial due to their infectious or hazardous nature.
Human Anatomical Waste, which includes tissues, organs, and body parts, is a primary category of waste collected in yellow bags.
Other items in this category include soiled waste (dressings contaminated with blood/body fluids), expired medicines, chemical waste, and microbiology waste.
The primary treatment for waste in yellow bags is high-temperature incineration to ensure complete destruction of pathogens.

Option A: Urine bags are made of plastic and are considered recyclable contaminated waste.
Option B: While cytotoxic waste (a type of expired/discarded medicine) is disposed of in yellow bags, 'Anatomical waste' represents a more primary and distinct category for this color code, making it a better and more comprehensive answer.
Option C: Needles are classified as 'sharps' and pose a high risk of puncture injuries and infection transmission.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Biomedical Waste Management Color Coding as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Proper waste segregation is a legal requirement under the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016. Non-compliance can lead to penalties for the healthcare facility.
Correct segregation at the point of generation is the most critical step in preventing nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections among patients, healthcare workers, and the community.
Nurses have a primary responsibility to ensure they and their team segregate waste correctly, and to educate patients and families about any waste they might generate (e.g., in-home care).

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core subject of the question: biomedical waste management.
Focus on the specific keyword: 'Yellow bags'.
Recall the standard color-coding system for biomedical waste segregation.
Mentally list the items that belong in the yellow bag (anatomical waste, soiled dressings, expired meds).
Evaluate each option against this knowledge: 'Urine bags' are plastic (Red), 'Needles' are sharps (White), 'Anatomical waste' is a primary category for Yellow, and 'Cytotoxic waste' is also Yellow but is a sub-category.
Select the option that represents the most primary and defining category for the yellow bag, which is 'Anatomical waste'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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